Classic Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Migration Safari

Encounter the majestic wildlife of Kenya and Tanzania on this 15 day private safari. You will stay in a combination of small luxury tented camps and classic lodges. Highlights include wildlife viewing from your deck at Mt. Kenya, the rare species of Samburu and the Flamingo covered Lake Nakuru. You then head south to Tanzania, visiting Arusha National Park, lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro crater, ending in the vast plains of the Serengeti in the midst of the “great migration”.


Day 1 - Nairobi
Arrive into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, After clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by our safari representative and transferred to the famous Norfolk Hotel. Dating from Kenya's colonial days, the Norfolk is a landmark in Nairobi. The hotel is rich in history, enhanced by up-to-the-minute facilities and amenities including a heated swimming pool, health club (fully equipped gym, aerobics room, sauna & steam rooms), salon, news-stand, and gift shops. The Norfolk is located in downtown Nairobi opposite the National Theater.
Overnight - The Norfolk Hotel

Day 2 - Mt. Kenya National Reserve
This morning after breakfast you will be met by your private safari guide and 4WD vehicle and depart for the Mt. Kenya National Reserve. You’ll drive through the Kenya highlands passing a patchwork quilt of Kikuyu farms and some of Kenya’s famous coffee and tea plantations as you make your way to Mountain Lodge. The unique lodge is located in an indigenous forest 7200 ft up in the reserve. It overlooks a natural waterhole and saltlick and is surrounded by dense forest. Each room faces the waterhole where you can watch the wildlife come to drink. Visitors include elephant, buffalo, rhino, hyena and if you are really lucky a leopard or lion. There is also a viewing balcony and a subterranean hide for some close up peeks and photos. You have lunch at the lodge and the rest of the day free to relax and watch the wildlife. After dinner relax in the lounge and then it’s to bed – knowing that if anything exciting happens at the waterhole – you can ask to be awakened by a porter. Overnight - Mountain Lodge (all meals)

Day 3 - Samburu National Reserve
After breakfast at the lodge you will depart with your guide, driving north through coffee, pineapple and tea plantations, past the equator to the semi-arid, dessert landscape of Samburu country. A backdrop of rocky outcrops and prominent mountain ranges to the north, and doum palms and riverine forest, give the Samburu and Shaba National Reserves an exotic feel.
The Ewaso Ngiro River, that runs through the reserve, is the only permanent source of water in the area, and supports an amazing array of wildlife. The Samburu region is known for it’s northern species of game, most of which can only be seen north of the equator. You’ll see the endangered Grevy’s zebra, the exotic Beisa oryx, reticulated giraffe, Somali Ostrich, long-necked gerenuk, and numerous dainty dik dik, the smallest antelope. You’ll also see herds of elephant, plains game and their predators - especially cheetah and the birdlife is phenomenal at Samburu, making an avid birder out of the most reluctant.

Your accommodation for the next three nights will be at the wonderful Larsen’s Camp, a small permanent tented camp, situated along the banks of the Ewaso Ngiro River, under of canopy of giant yellow acacias. The camp consists of only 17 large walk-in tents with en-suite facilities, a dinning tent, swimming pool, fire pit and tree house, from which you can spot wildlife from. After lunch and time to relax you’ll depart on an afternoon game drive, returning in the evening with time for a sundowner around the fire before dinner. Overnight - Larsen’s Tented Camp (all meals & activities)

Day 4 - Samburu National Reserve
This morning, you’ll be awakened early and after some coffee or tea and biscuits, depart at dawn on an early morning game drive. The light is perfect for photography and the wildlife is just waking up to a new day. Return to camp for breakfast and then depart on a late morning game drive if you wish. After lunch and time to relax and do some serious bird watching, depart on a late afternoon game driven when again the light is perfect for photography. Return to camp in the early evening in time for drinks around the fire and dinner. Overnight - Larsen’s Tented Camp (all meals & activities)

Day 5 - Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast you will depart with your guide to the Great Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru, arriving at the Lion Hill Sarova Lodge in time for lunch. After some time to relax after lunch, you’ll depart on an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is famous for its bird life, particularly flamingos, which at times congregate in the millions. The lake is one of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes and the flamingos are attracted by a microscopic algae called Spirulina which live in the lake and it is this which is responsible for the Flamingos pink hue. The lake is fringed on all sides by shady Acacia forest and the National Park features a wide range of animals particularly Waterbuck, Warthog, Impala, Rothschild Giraffe, Lion and Leopard. It is also rhino sanctuary and there is therefore a good chance of coming across black and white rhino species.
Set on a plateau in the Rift Valley, overlooking one of the world's greatest ornithological spectacles, Lake Nakuru, stands Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. There are 65 rooms terraced on the hillside, all with verandahs and panoramic views of the flamingo pink-rimmed lake. Meals are served in the Flamingo Restaurant and the Rift Valley Bar on the terrace overlooks the lake, and is open early till late. Overnight - Lion Hill Sarova Lodge (all meals & activities)

Day 6 - Lake Nakuru / Nairobi / Arusha National Park
This morning after breakfast, you will be driven back to Nairobi, to Wilson Field where you will board the scheduled short flight to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. Upon arrival you will be met by your new guide and depart for the Arusha National Park, one of the most picturesque in East Africa. This often overlooked park is a small gem with lakes reminiscent of England's Lake District, the 14,000 ft. Mt. Meru and the beautiful Ngurdoto Crater. In the Ngurdoto Forest you will have a chance to observe the rare black & white Colobus Monkey.
Your accommodations for the next two night will be at the Hatari Lodge. This newly refurbished lodge has views of Africa's two most gigantic peaks: the legendary Mount Kilimanjaro and the spectacular panorama of Mount Meru. An elevated wooden walkway leads to the Momella Meadow where guests can have an undisturbed and unique experience of watching wildlife close-up. The meadow attracts animals year -round including buffalo, waterbuck, giraffe and occasionally large herds of elephants.

After checking into the lodge you’ll have lunch, served on the terrace with a view of the meadow and if it’s clear, Mt. Kilimanjaro. After lunch you have the remainder of the day to relax and just observe the nearby wildlife. This evening lodge in the early evening and enjoy a sundowner on the terrace before dinner. Overnight - Hatari Lodge (all meals & activities)


Day 7 - Arusha National Park
Enjoy breakfast on the terrace this morning, with a view of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance and the giraffes that have spent the night in the meadow. After breakfast, depart on another game drive in this beautiful park. Return to the lodge for lunch, and after some time to relax depart on another game drive or perhaps a walk to the waterfalls. Overnight - Hatari Lodge (all meals & activities)

Days 8/9 - Lake Manyara National Park
Depart after breakfast, driving though the town of Arusha and continuing across the Great Rift Valley to Kirurumu Tented Lodge. This charming permanent tented camp is perched atop the escarpment overlooking the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara National Park. The tents are built on volcanic stone and have shaded verandahs, comfortable beds, and full en-suite bathrooms. After enjoying lunch with some time to relax, in the late afternoon you can go on a wildlife walk with a Maasai guide from the local village. Return in time to enjoy a sundowner in the lounge, with its panoramic view from the observation deck.
The next day you will wake early and depart with your guide in order to be first into Lake Manyara National Park. Although only 205 sq. miles in size, this enchanting park is noted for its beauty and incredibly lush acacia forest of giant fig and mahogany trees that are fed by underground springs. Surrounded by the woodlands as you enter, this is favorite area for baboons, blue monkeys, and the occasional elephant family. Emerging from the forest the terrain turns to grassland and acacia trees where you may spot a tree climbing lion. After stopping for a picnic breakfast continue on to the Lake, hippo pools, and other areas before returning to the lodge for a late lunch..

This afternoon you have the option of relaxing at camp or returning to the park for another game drive. Be sure to spend some time on the lounge observation deck that cantilevers over the escarpment – the perfect place for a sundowner before dinner. Overnight - Kirurumu Tented Lodge (all meals & activities)


Day 10 - Ngrongoro Farm House
After a morning after breakfast, you’ll continue up the escarpment, driving through the town of Karatu to the Ngorongoro Farm House. This wonderful farm, formerly owned by a German family, has been magically transformed. The original farmhouse has been replaced by a dramatic thatched roof structure that houses the dining room, bar and lounge. In the surrounding gardens, 9 beautifully furnished bandas have been built with views of the distant hills and farmland. After lunch at the farm , you can relax on your private verandah, explore the farm, take a swim in the pool or visit a local primary school. Overnight - Ngorongoro Farm House (all meals & activities)

Day 11 - Ngorongoro Crater
This morning after an early breakfast you’ll leave with a picnic lunch and drive the short distance to the "eighth wonder of the world", the Ngorongoro Crater. Driving up the slopes of the lush green mountain and arriving at the rim of the crater, the first glimpse takes your breath away.
The floor of this collapsed volcano spreads for 102 sq. miles and the walls are 2,000 feet high, a truly awesome sight. The crater floor is a virtual "Noah's Ark", inhabited by almost every species of wildlife indigenous to East Africa. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake - complete with flamingoes, a forest and open plains.

After descending the crater wall, you’ll spend the day wildlife viewing on the crater floor. In the afternoon you’ll ascend the crater and check in the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. This dramatic, with it’s outstanding architecture and African décor, is perched high on the crater rim. Guest rooms have private verandah’s with views of the crater below. Meals are served in the spectacular dining room. Enjoy a drink in the bar and if the tumblers are performing – catch their show. Overnight - Serena Crater Lodge (all meals & activities)


Day 12 - Serengeti National Park
Today you’re off to the famous “Serengeti National Park, ” home of the “great migration”. As you crest the hillside, spread out before us. as far as the eye can see is the Serengeti National Park. The 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) park is inhabited by more than 2 million animals including more than a million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of plains zebras, and Thomson’s gazelles. Large predators including lions, cheetahs, and hyenas are drawn to the area by this abundance of prey which migrate throughout the park. Many smaller animals – rock hyrax, bat eared foxes, mongoose, honey badger, jackals, monkeys, baboon and African hare inhabit the area along with nearly 500 species of birds.
Along the way to the Serengeti you will stop at the famous “Oldupai Gorge”, where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey made their discovery of early man. Here you will visit the small museum and attend a lecture describing the archeological digs and geology of the gorge.

Your lodging for the next three nights will be at Ndutu Safari Lodge , near the location of the migratory herds of wildebeest and zebras. From December to March, the migration is clustered in the southern Serengeti between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Ndutu. This delightful small lodge, sits back from the lake in a beautiful setting, and is know for it’s friendly staff and wonderful food. At night you can sit around the campfire and look up at the magnificent African sky, while listening to the sounds of animals in the distance. In the morning you'll be awakened by the sounds of birds. Overnight - Ndutu Safari Lodge (all meals & activities)


Days 13/14 - Serengeti National Park
During your stay in the Serengeti, you can decide with your guide how you would like to spend your days. On most mornings you’ll be awakened early and after coffee or tea depart on a morning game drive. The early mornings are magical in the Serengeti, when the wildlife is just waking up to greet the day. After returning to Ndutu for a hearty breakfast you can depart on a late morning game drive returning for lunch - or you may want to depart with a picnic lunch so that you can spend the whole day wildlife viewing.
Off road, across the Serengeti plains, you’ll find "Kopjes" - massive boulder islands, standing in a sea of grass. The kopjes were formed by volcanic activity and provide shelter to a great variety of plants and animals, from the elusive leopard to the tiny dik dik. After a days activities you return to camp for sundowners around the fire and dinner. Overnight - Ndutu Safari Lodge (all meals & activities)


Day 15 - Arusha / Nairobi / End Of Safari
After breakfast you will depart for the Seronera airstrip, and board the scheduled flight to Arusha. When you arrive, you will be met and taken to lunch with time for some shopping before continuing on the scheduled 1:45pm AirKenya flight to Nairobi arriving at 2:35pm. When you arrive you will be met and transferred to the Norfolk Hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight. Afterwards you will be met and transferred to the International airport in time to catch your evening flight back home. Overnight - The Norfolk Hotel (Breakfast, lunch)



Safari Includes
Private airport transfers in Kenya and Tanzania
Private guides and 4WD safari vehicles with photographic roof hatches in Kenya and Tanzania
Bottled water and sodas on game drives
All meals while on safari
All accommodations as per itinerary
All National Park & Wildlife Reserve entry fees
Scheduled flights: Nairobi - Arusha, Serengeti - Arusha, Arusha - Nairobi
Membership in Flying Doctor Service


Not included
International airfare
Alcoholic beverages
Visas and visa fees
All items of a personal nature
Travel Insurance
Gratuities for guides and camp staff
Airport departure taxes